Link Centre

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Link Centre
'Link' & 'The Link'

The official logo of the Link Centre.
Full name The Link Centre
Location Swindon, Wiltshire, England
Coordinates 51°33′33″N 1°49′42″W / 51.5592°N 1.8283°W / 51.5592; -1.8283
Broke ground 1983
Built 1984
Renovated 2012
Owner Swindon Borough Council
Operator Swindon Borough Council
Construction cost £9,500,000 (approx.)
Architect K P Sherry
Tenants
Swindon Wildcats (Ice Hockey)
Swindon Flames (Skater hockey)
Swindon Dolphins (Swimming)
Swindon Sonics (Basketball)

The Link Centre is a leisure centre in Swindon, England. The building, owned and operated by the Swindon Borough Council, is best known for its national-sized ice rink which houses the English Premier Ice Hockey League team the Swindon Wildcats. It also contains the largest climbing wall in Wiltshire.[1]

History

The centre was first commissioned by Thamesdown Borough Council (later renamed Swindon Borough Council) in 1970 to provide leisure and social facilities for an estimated West Swindon population of 50,000. Design was undertaken in-house under chief architect K P Sherry and work began on the site in 1983.

The space-age, multi-axial design incorporating an Ice Rink, Swimming pool and other facilities opened in April 1985, received an estimated 1 million visitors in its first year of operation and "won awards and favourable mentions in architectural circles."[2]

"The complex, designed to provide facilities for more than 20 sports and leisure activities, was described in architectural and sports journals as the most comprehensive development of its kind in Britain. Among the early visitors who came to Swindon specially to see it was Richard Tracey, who was Sports Minister in Margaret Thatcher's government."[2]

The £2million pound Ice Rink was praised on completion but local residents were unhappy that the swimming pool, at only 25 metres long, was not of competition standard.[2]

In 2003, the centre was closed following the finding of the legionella bacteria in the water cooling system.[3] This bacteria, found during a routine test, is the cause of Legionnaires' disease. The Link Centre re-opened following a full sterilisation of the water supply.[4] In 2006 the metal-exterior centre was closed by a major electrical fault caused by an internal flood.[1]

Facilities

Ice rink

The international-sized ice pad at the Link Centre is recognised as a "Centre of Excellence" for both figure skating and ice hockey. it is an approved national centre for squad training for the National Ice Skating Association and British Ice Hockey Associations, it is also a NISA approved regional test centre.[5]
  • Health Suite
Including a purpose-built Sauna, Steam Rooms and Relaxation Area
  • 25 m deck level swimming pool
  • Gym
  • Climbing wall
'The Ridge' climbing wall provides over 120 possible climbs up to 9 m high, spread across four different walls.[6]
  • Multi-purpose sports hall (eight-court)
  • Squash courts
  • Snooker hall
  • Library

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Flood closes town leisure centre". BBC News. 2006-07-07. Retrieved 2007-05-15. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Shaping up to controversy". Swindon Advertiser. 2001-09-11. Retrieved 2007-05-15. 
  3. ↑ "Legionella bacteria found in Swindon". BBC News. 2003-12-04. Retrieved 2007-05-15. 
  4. ↑ "Centre reopens after bug find". BBC News. 2003-12-05. Retrieved 2007-05-15. 
  5. ↑ "Ice Rink". Leisure and Sport. Swindon Borough Council. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-05-15. 
  6. ↑ "Climbing the walls". BBC. Retrieved 2007-05-15. 

External links

Main venues

Coordinates: 51°33′33″N 1°49′42″W / 51.55917°N 1.82833°W / 51.55917; -1.82833

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